Interested in vintage pens, but don't know where to begin? It can seem overwhelming: so many different brands and models and variations, no standardized price guide or
grading scale, and what about restoration and repair?

Parker 62, c. 1905

Waterman 0502, c. 1902

Don't be afraid. Fountain pens are not nearly as complex as cars or watches, and most of what you need to look out for is on the outside in plain sight. Although pen collecting is a
relatively young field, it is also mature enough that
resources for collectors
-- from reference books to clubs to restoration services -- are quite plentiful. Nonetheless, much pen knowledge remains to be discovered, publicized, and published, leaving abundant
opportunities for collectors willing to do a bit of homework.

Most pen collectors like to write with some if not all of their pens, and even those who don't, generally prefer to have their pens in working order. For fountain pen
technology has been highly developed for a long, long time: hundred-year old pens can still give excellent writing performance, and the pen still commonly singled out as the
best of all time -- the Parker 51
-- was introduced back in 1941!

Not that the 51 is everyone's favorite, however. Many collectors prefer an exposed, flexible nib, or the rich and colorful patterning of 1920s and '30s celluloid, or the classic restraint
of pens from the hard rubber era. It's not for nothing that the prewar decades have come to be known as the Golden Age of the fountain pen.

It isn't just a matter of materials and styling, however: this period also was characterized by constant technical innovation. One could assemble a fine collection just
gathering together examples of different filling mechanisms, and even in the mainstream of pen development the range of pen types was much broader than it is today. The pictures below show only
a fraction of what is out there.

Answers to many basic questions about vintage pen use and collecting can be found in our Pens FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions) section. For illustrations and descriptions of a broad range of classic pens, see our Pen Profiles
; many other items can be seen in the illustrated pages of our Pen Catalog
, while specialized terminology is explained in the Glossary
. For further study, see the Collecting Resources
section, which lists books, magazines, shows, clubs, and more. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact us. We have offered guidance to many collectors over
the years, helping to build collections that are a continuing source of pride and enjoyment to their owners.